h on the same day as
Stillwell, Hodgeman and Close came in from the east. The former party
had plodded for sixty-seven miles through a dense haze of drift. They
had kept a course roughly by the wind and the direction of sastrugi. The
unvarying white light of thick overcast days had been so severe that all
were suffering from snow-blindness. When, at length, they passed over
the endless billows of snow on to the downfalls near the coast, the
weather cleared and they were relieved to see once more the Mecca of all
sledging parties--Aladdin's Cave.

A redistribution of parties and duties was made. Hodgeman joined Whetter
and Bickerton in preparation for the air-tractor sledge's trip to the
west. Hunter took up the position of meteorologist and devoted all his
spare time to biological investigations amongst the immigrant life of
summer. Hannam continued to act as magnetician and general "handy man."
Murphy, who was also to be in charge during the summer, returned to
his stores, making preparations for departure. Hourly meteorological
observations kept every one vigilant at the Hut.

In pursuance of a plan to examine in detail the coast immediately
east of Commonwealth Bay, Stillwell set out with Laseron and Close on
December 9. The weather was threatening at the start, and they had the
usual struggle with wind and drift to "make" Aladdin's Cave.

Forewarned on the first journey of the dangers of bad ventilation, they
cleared the entrance to the cave of obstacles so that a ready exit could
be made, if, as was expected, the opening became sealed with snow-drift.
This did happen during the night, and, though everything seemed all
right the next morning, the whole party was overpowered during breakfast
by foul air, the presence of which was not suspected.

Hoosh was cooked and about to be served, when Stillwell, who was in
charge of the primus, collapsed. Close immediately seized an ice-axe,
stood up, thrust its point through the choked entrance, and fell down,
overcome. Laseron became powerless at the same time. An hour and a half
later--so it was reckoned--the party revived and cleared the opening.
The hole made by the ice-axe had been sufficient to save their lives.
For a day they were too weak and exhausted to travel, so the tent was
pitched and the night spent outside the Cave.

On December 11 they steered due south for a while and then eastward
for three days to Madigan Nunatak; delayed for twenty-four hours by a
bli